Drug-crazed thug pretending to be cop barged into couple's home and robbed them of cash
A drug-crazed thug pretending to be a police officer barged into a couple's Coatbridge home in the dead of night and robbed them of cash.
Anthony Black warned the frightened young mum, "don't make me stab you", before he fled with £2500.
Black, 32, was jailed for two years and eight months at Airdrie Sheriff Court this week.
He admitted robbing the couple at their home in Calder Street on December 27 while subject to two bail orders.
Flora McCamley, prosecuting, said the couple were asleep when there was banging at the front door shortly before 2am.
Ms McCamley told the court: "A male voice could be heard shouting through the letterbox, 'it's the police. Open the door'.
"The woman opened the door and the accused, who was known to her, pushed her against the wall in the hallway.
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"Her partner noticed Black put his hand under his jumper and take hold of what he thought might be the handle of a knife.
"He appeared to be under the influence of drink or drugs and shouted, 'I'm just out of jail. Give me everything you have - money and booze - or I'll end up stabbing you'.
"Black took approximately £2500 from a bedroom as well as a quantity of teeth-whitening stripes.
"Black then put his hand in his jacket pocket and said, 'don't make me stab you', before leaving.
"Police arrested him at an address in Coatbridge the next day."
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Black claimed he went to the house for drugs and the robbery was an "opportunist" act.
His lawyer, Mark Lutton, said: "He has an addiction to cocaine and his recollection is limited.
"He says cocaine changes him and if he had been sober he would never dream of behaving in this way."
Jailing Black, Sheriff Paul Haran told him: "Given the threats made and the circumstances, I've no doubt that you caused significant levels of fear to these people.
"This is very much at the high end of the serious cases this court can deal with and your record is significant."
The sheriff said he would have jailed Black for four years had he not pled guilty at an early stage.
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